Washing-machine



llmrnn STATES PATENT WAYNE HOLDEN, OF ALLENTOW N, PENFSYLVANIA,

WASHING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 289,416, dated December 4, 1883.

' Application filed April 9, 1883. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WAYNE HOLBEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Allen town, in the county of Lehigh, State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Wasliing-lllachines, which improvement is fully set forth in the following specification and accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a side elevation of the washingmachine embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical section thereof in line a: m, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section in line 3/ y, Fig. 2. Fig. 411$ a top view of a detached portion.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

My invention consists of certain improvements in washing-machines, as will be hereinafter fully set forth and definitely claimed.

It also consists of a novel journal and journal-bearing for the rotary beater.

. Referring to the drawings, A represents a tub, which is of quadrilateral form; but other shapes may be adopted.

B represents a beater, which is secured to a plate, B, on the lower end of the hub O of a bevel-wheel, D. Rising from the wheel D is aspindle, D, which is passed through a horizontal plate, F, of the bearing-frame G of the driving-wheel H, which latter meshes with the bevel-wheel D, the spindle being threaded above said plate F for the engagement of a nut, J, bywhich the beater, plate, hub, and wheel are suspended from the plate F, the spindle being continued upwardly, so as to enter a vertical bearing in the under side of the top part of the frame'G or the boss which receives the axial bolt H of the driving-wheel, it being noticed that the spindle has a bearing at both ends, and is thus guided true and firm, and that a space exists between the plate F and top of the frame G for fitting the nut on the spindle, tightening or adjusting it, and removing the same when required, it also being noticed that the plate B, hub C, and spindle D are cast in one piece, thus forming a strong structure, the hub occupying the opening E in the lid or cover of the tub, and the frame G being firmly secured to said lid or cover. The upper face of the wheel D is dishing, and so disposed that the lubricant that may fall from the parts of the machine above said wheel an opening, H

will drop into said dishing-face, and is thus prevented from entering into the tub. The wheel H has a removable handle, H, which is formed with a wide and narrow slot, H and,

The slot H receives a bolt, H", and the opening H receives a pin, H, which latter is cast with or otherwise secured to the wheel H, said bolt passing through the wheel H. The handle is fitted over the head of the bolt, and moved so that the shank of the bolt enters the narrow part of the slot H, and the opening H receives the pin H The thumb-nut H of the bolt H is now tightened, and as the handle is embraced by lugs or flanges which project from the driving-wheel, thehandle and wheel H are firmly connected, it being evident that the handle may be conveniently removed when required. As the opening E in the lid must be sufficiently large, in order, in settingup the machine, to permit the passage of the wheel D from below, said opening is closed to prevent splashing of water therethrough by means of an annulus, K,which encircles the hub G, and rests on a shoulder at the top of the wall of said opening, the annulus being diametrically divided, so that it may be applied in sections in position under the wheel D. The driving-wheel is operated, whereby rotary motions are imparted to the beater, it being noticed that the wheel D, from which the beater depends, rotates with the spindle D as its axis, whose bearings are on the frame G. The beater is formed of frames which depend from the opposite ends of an arm connected with the plate 13. Each frame is formed of upright slats a a, of diamond sh ape in cross-section, which leaves flaring or con tracted openings 12 between the slats on the front and rear of the frame, the narrow part of each opening being at the center. The top and bottom of the slats are connected by crosspieces which are integral with said slats, so that the frame possesses great strength and the slats are not liable to be wrenched from position by any blows or strain on the bottom of the slats, as the latter are guarded and strengthened at the bottom by the lower cross-piece.

In practice the beater is rotated alternately in opposite directions by proper operation of the driving-wheel H. Consequently the garments or articles in the tub are subjected to theaction of the opposite faces of the beater.

As the water enters the openings 11 the suction draws the articles thereinto to the contracted parts thereof, thus compressing the articles and causing a rubbing action thereon, occasioned by said articles moving on the sides of the slats, from the outer edges of the latter to the centers thereof, and as such action is constantly occasioned, due to the reciprocating motions of the beater, it is evident that the washing of the article is rapid and thorough, with the effect somewhat similar to that of a hand wash-board. The rubbing action of the heater is assisted by fluting the ends of the frame, as at c, and thereby increasing the rubbing-surface of the beater. The slats a may be cylindrical or oval in cross-section, producing the same result as when diamond shape, the flaring openings 2) being preserved in each case.

The special construction of the beater and the handle may form the subject-matter of aseparate application for Letters Patent.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The open frame G, formed near the bottom with a horizontal cross-piece or plate, F, and at top with a boss, the under side of which has a vertical opening, in combination with the beater, supporting-plate B, hub 0, wheel D, spindle D, and nut J, said spindle being cast with said wheel, hub, and plate, and rotating therewith, and held ,in position by the cross-piece F, nut J, and opening in the top boss of the frame, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The tub or box, the lid having a shouldered opening, the frame G, having a crosspiece, F, and top opening, the beater-operating wheel D, with hub G, and extendedspindle D, the nut J, and the loosely-fitted divided annulus K, combined and operating substantially as described, and forming an improve ment in washing-machines.

"WAYNE HOLBEN.

Vitn esses JOHN A. Wrnnnnsnnmr, A. 1?. GRANT. 

